Best Places To See The Christmas Lights San Diego [2023] With Map

Where to See Christmas Lights in San Diego

The Christmas lights San Diego puts up around the city still turn it into a winter wonderland of shimmering lights, colorful decorations, and stunning displays. All helping us to get into the holiday spirit!

One of our favorite traditions is visiting both venues and neighborhoods that put their time and their hearts into stringing Christmas lights. Why do they do it? 

As one homeowner from Poway’s Candy Cane Lane said last year “It brings families together, and to see the awe-inspired faces of the children and their excited smiles – believe me – it makes it all worthwhile.”

One of our favorite traditions each year in December is to hop in the car put on our favorite Christmas tunes, and drive out to see some amazing San Diego Christmas lights and displays.

Here are some recommended places to see the Christmas lights in San Diego. These include both businesses and private neighborhoods. From spirited communities to outdoor events at amusement parks, there’s enough out there to set the mood for a happy holiday!

While we try to keep this list as updates as possible, please please remember to check websites to confirm dates, times, and in some cases, ticket costs, and the most updated information possible.

San Diego Christmas Lights Map

Find this Map of San Diego Christmas Lights Location on Google Maps>>

Old Town Holiday Lights Trolley Tour

Old Town Trolley’s Holiday Lights & Sights Tour

A great way to celebrate the holiday season and view the best San Diego Christmas lights all in one evening is by hopping on Old Town Trolley’s Holiday Lights and Sights Trolley Tour.

Join the elf conductors as they share fun holiday facts and traditions and introduce riders to the festive lights of Old Town, Embarcadero, Seaport Village, Balboa Park and more.

Tickets for the 75-minute tour running Dec. 1-23 and Dec. 26-30, 2023 must be purchased 24 hours in advance.

Cost: Cost: $25, children ages three and under free (on an adult’s lap).

Coronado Christmas Lights

Hotel Del Coronado – Coronado Island
November 17, 2023 – January 7, 2024

The Hotel Del Coronado is a place we visit every holiday season because the lights and displays are absolutely breathtaking.

This year, the Del has transformed the beachfront Windsor Lawn into a magical winter wonderland of sparkling lights, enormous, decorated trees, and snowy surprises and coordinated light show with festive jazz tunes every 30 minutes between 5 and 9 PM. We can’t wait to see it!

Christmas Lights San Diego Central

San Diego Bay Parade of Lights

December 10 & 17, 2023

The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights draws in 100,000 visitors each year. Watch this beautiful boat parade along the San Diego Bay and get into the holiday spirit. This year’s motto is “Christmas Traditions Around the World” and about 70 boats are expected to participate.

You can also go to Newport Beach for their Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. Book your tickets here>> And if you want to experience it from the water, you can even do a Holiday Lights Cruise!

Illuminated Winter Nights-Belmont Park

Though visitors can’t the amusement rides, you can still celebrate the holidays with a beachside winter wonderland-themed event at Mission Beach’ Belmont Park. Thousands of lights and 15-foot-tall holiday-themed sculptures that come to life when the sun goes down are just some of the magic you’ll find at the park.

Dates: 2023 Dates TBD

No admission cost.

Jungle Bells-San Diego Zoo

How fun to ring in the season at one of the places we San Diegans are most proud of —our world-famous San Diego Zoo. And in the evening, the park transforms into a magical winter wonderland.  

The December annual celebration known as Jungle Bells features twinkling lights, seasonal decorations, holiday music, and joyful roaming entertainers. And of course, we can’t forget the stars of the show, our beloved zoo animals. 

Tickets can be purchased here.

Cost: Included with park admission.

Seaport Village

Seaport Village is always beautifully decorated during the Holidays. Definitely add this to your list of places to check out the San Diego Christmas Lights.

Clairemont Christmas Park

Since 1977, over 40 residents of Lana Drive and Jamar, off Abernathy Circle have been hanging holiday lights in their “Christmas Park” to the delight of visitors. Drive or walk through the quaint neighborhood to see the Christmas lights and beautifully decorated homes.

Dates: December 1-25, 2023 5-9 pm.

Kilroy Star Little Italy

A stunning pop-up public art program has once again returned to illuminate San Diego’s downtown skyline, intertwine art and architecture and engage the community. What began in 2020 to inspire hope during a time of pandemic darkness, The Kilroy Stars were commissioned within four west coast cities by a visionary real estate developer and dedicated supporter of public art, John Kilroy.

San Diego’s Kilroy Star has just been installed and illuminated — seen from miles away perched atop the city’s most buzzed-about mixed-use office property, 2100 Kettner in Little Italy.

Christmas Lights San Diego South/East County

Jingle Bell Hill- El Cajon

Residents in 75 homes from Pepper Drive to Solomon Avenue in El Cajon happily participate in this annual event during the holiday season. From gigantic lighted trees, creative scenes representing Disney and comic-book characters all synchronized with music, and colorful lights, it’s obvious this neighborhood loves the holidays. 

Dates: November 24, 2023 – January 1, 2024  

Starlight Circle/Starburst – Santee

75 homes in all their holiday-lighted glory welcome visitors to this Santee neighborhood along with Tomel Court. It’s an easy circled drive filled with amazing displays and twinkling lights. 

Dates: December 1-31, 2023 dusk to 10 pm.

DB Christmas – Santee

In honor of their late father, who was a lover of all things Christmas, the Balazs family decorates their home every year to spread cheer and hope. Tune in on 98.8 for synchronized music as you drive by. Mr. Balazs collects donations to support St Jude’s Children Research Hospital.

Dates: Daily during December 2023 from 5 -10 PM
Location: 9773 Roe Drive, Santee

Enchanted Village- Lemon Grove

Noah Homes’ annual Enchanted Village begins at Steele Canyon High School winding through a fun, picturesque candy cane light tunnel, 18-foot Christmas tree, holiday celebrities like Buddy the Elf, plus themed zones like Holidays Under the Sea and Candyland. 

Proceeds support the residents of Noah Homes, a nonprofit that provides housing, services, and advocacy for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Dates: 2023 Dates TBD

Cost: $65 per vehicle

Tinsel Town – Lakeside

A neighborhood with about 20 decorated houses spreads the Holiday cheer in Lakeside every night from 5-10 PM all throughout December.

Location: 10248 Paseo Palmas Dr. Lakeside. 

Christmas Lights San Diego North County Inland

Candy Cane Lane-Poway

Made up of three neighboring cul-de-sacs, Candy Cane Lane is an impressive array of festive lights. Hickory Street turns into an absolute holiday wonderland as residents go all out with themed displays, accompanied by thousands of twinkling lights, and holiday tunes.  

Dates: 2023 Dates TBD

California Center for the Arts- Escondido

San Diego’s “The Peace Family” produces a fun theatrical light show experience featured on ABC’s Great Christmas Light Fight in 2018.​ With over 36,000 red, green, and blue LED lights, the family lit up their home for years with unique theatrical displays never seen before.

However, due to the popularity of the show, and respect for their neighbors, the show moved from their home to California Center for the Arts, Escondido. Now visitors can experience a twinkling lights tunnel, sparkling lights that dance to music, and a blowing snow machine on this self-guided tour.

Dates: 2023 Dates TBD

Cost: Non-members: $18 for adults, $10 for children; Members: $10 for adults, $7 for children

Safari Park Wild Holidays-Escondido

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park celebrates the holidays with a ton of bright sparkling lights and activities for the season at the park located at 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road. 

Entertainment includes an Enchanted Lagoon, Safari Base Camp Light Show, Bridge of Lights, and Nairobi Lantern Walk. There will be roaming performances including firefly stilt walkers and an acoustic music duo. And did I mention there will be lights?

Tickets can be purchased here>>

Cost: Included with park admission.

Christmas Card Lane- Rancho Peñasquitos

This stunning display of Christmas card cut-outs against a backdrop of thousands of lights is the effort of 200 families each year. Oviedo Street off Black Mountain Road turns into a holiday wonderland and most lights stay up until Christmas, and some through New Year’s Day.

Dates: 2023 Dates TBD

Fairway Village- Carmel Mountain Ranch

100+ homeowners participate in this holiday magic lighting event spectacular in Carmel Mountain Ranch’s Sabre Springs along Stoney Gate Place. 

Dates: Dec. 1, 2023 to Jan. 1, 2024 from dusk to 10:30 p.m.

Merry-tage Court-Scripps Ranch

The streets of Stonebridge Parkway and Meritage Court present creative lighted displays themed to pop culture hits like Cars, Frozen, The Grinch, and Star Wars. The lights are absolutely magnificent and remain up throughout the entire month of December.

Dates: December 1-31, 2023 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

San Diego Christmas Lights North County Coastal

Lightscape, Holiday Nights in the Garden-Encinitas

This outdoor holiday lighting experience covers 37 acres of festive holiday lights where visitors can stroll amidst displays of lighted animals, laser lighting, and illuminated plant collections. Other garden areas like the rainforest and waterfall, and Canary Island/Cork Oak Grove are also adorned with lights. Tickets are available online.

Dates: November 17, 2023 – January 1, 2024 5-10 pm

Cost: $13-$32

Holidays at Legoland-Carlsbad

Though rides are not currently open at Legoland, the resort is still open, and guests can enter the park to see holiday characters, and an impressive nighttime light show accompanied by Christmas songs. The famous LEGO Christmas tree is a sight to see. Tickets are available here>>

Event Dates:

• November 18th through 26th, 2023
• December 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th through 30th, 2023

Knob Hill-San Marcos

For over 30 years, the neighborhood of Knob Hill in San Marcos has been turned into a San Diego Christmas Lights spectacle that is worth the visit. Lights will be lid up all through December and between December 14 and 23, 2023, Santa will be there daily between 6:30 – 7:30 PM for added Holiday cheer.

‘Holidays in Your Car’ Light Show-Del Mar

A holiday lights spectacle featuring more than one million lights is happening at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Visitors drive through a mile-and-a-half of LED lights accompanied by holiday music. Multi-colored projections and 40-foot holograms feature images of the season. Reservations are mandatory. Get your tickets on Groupon for big savings (up to 40% off)>>

Dates: 2023 Dates TBD

Cost: $49-64 per car (all must be in safety belts). Remember to Check Groupon for big savings!

Willow Walk Road-Oceanside

Over 30,000 lights go into creating a spectacular show at 5279 Willow Walk Road with 13,000 digital lights featuring mega board arches and singing Christmas trees.

Dates 1-31. 6:30 to 10 pm.

Holiday at the Harbor-Dana Point

With over 700000 sparkling Holiday lights, Dana Point Harbor dresses up for the Holidays. You can find many Christmas lights displays, including a Candy Cane Lane, a Merry Kiss Me mistletoe arch and much more.

There is also a Dana Point Holiday Boat Parade, Menora Lighting, and lots of fun Santa events for kids, fur babies, and the rest of the family. Read our full review of Holidays at the Harbor Dana Point here>>

No matter what your holiday plans, hope you’ll get a chance to get out there to see some of these amazing San Diego Christmas lights displays. 

Let us know if you found some beautiful Christmas Lights in San Diego you loved that we didn’t cover!

Best Places To See The Christmas Lights San Diego was written by Noreen Kompanik for San Diego Explorer.

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Last Updated on September 22, 2023 by Maria Haase

The post Best Places To See The Christmas Lights San Diego [2023] With Map appeared first on San Diego Explorer.